England watching Beattie

Beattie just can't stop scoring

England assistant coach Tord Grip will run the rule over James Beattie during Southampton's Premiership game with Newcastle on Saturday.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's right-hand man will be at St Mary's Stadium to see Beattie attempt to continue his hot goalscoring streak.

Beattie, a BBC Sport Online columnist, has made remarkable progress this season.

After failing to score in his first nine games, the former England Under-21 striker has since smashed 11 in his last nine Premiership outings.

If it happens then I'm not going to turn it down

James Beattie

That form has pushed him to the fringes of the England picture and Eriksson has challenged him to keep scoring.

"I know all about James Beattie and if he keeps on scoring he will be an England player at some stage in the future," said the England coach.

Beattie is flattered by the speculation but is not letting the acclaim go to his head.

"If it happens then I'm not going to turn it down. But if it doesn't happen, I won't let it bother me," he told BBC Sport Online.

"There's only one person whose opinion matters on this, and that's Mr Eriksson. "

Meanwhile, Beattie has picked up a cheque for £10,000 from Premiership sponsors Barclaycard for becoming the first player this season to net 10 top-flight goals.

Beattie has donated the windfall to Bevois Town Primary School in Southampton.

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